One of these was Cynthia. The other was a young
and beautiful woman; the two were talking earnestly together. Suddenly
Cynthia turned and saw me, and rising quickly, came to me and caught me
in her arms.
"I was sure you were somewhere near me, dearest," she said; "I dreamed
of you last night, and you have been in my thoughts all day."
My darling was in some way altered. She looked older, wiser, and calmer,
but she was in my eyes even more beautiful. The other girl, who had
looked at us in surprise for a moment, rose too and came shyly forwards.
Cynthia caught her hand, and presented her to me, adding, "And now you
must leave us alone for a little, if you will forgive me for asking it,
for we have much to ask and to say."
The girl smiled and went off, looking back at us, I thought,
half-enviously.
We went and sat down on the seat, and Cynthia said:
"Something has happened to you, dear one, I see, since I saw you
last--something great and glorious."
"Yes," I said, "you are right; I have seen the beginning and the end;
and I have not yet learned to understand it. But I am the same, Cynthia,
and yours utterly.
Pages:
282
283
284
285
286
287
288
289
290
291
292
293
294
295
296
297
298
299
300
301
302
303
304
305
306